If there is one thing US pundits are agreed on it is that the row over John Bolton's nomination as America's man at the UN is only going to get worse as the saga rolls on.

The full US Senate will decide Mr Bolton's future

The decision over President George Bush's nominee was passed to the full Senate on Thursday, but without positive backing and with a key Republican senator adamant Mr Bolton was the wrong man for the job.

"This is going to get very nasty and very poisonous as both sides are very dug into their positions," NBC's Tim Russert asserted, moments after the committee vote.

"His [Sen George Voinovich's] speech is going to be quoted by every Democratic opponent."

CNN's man at the White House, Ed Henry, described the outcome as a "blow to President Bush".

"The White House wanted a positive recommendation," he said. "But it is a blow that Voinovich came out hard against the nomination.

"That was bad enough, but the fact that a Republican-led committee could not get this through with a positive recommendation is not what the White House would have wanted."

'Outraged'

As a dramatic meeting of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee unfolded, political bloggers recorded their observations on the internet.

This is going to be a great fight

Steve ClemonsThe Washington Note

Mark Noonan, a senior writer on blogsforbush.com, wrote: "I just watched Ohio Senator Voinovich speak on the John Bolton nomination as US ambassador to the United Nations.

"I have never been so outraged by the actions of a fellow Republican in my life.

"After spending a good deal of time sliming Mr Bolton, Voinovich had the nerve to say that he likes John Bolton, but that he wants the Committee to send Mr Bolton to the Senate without a recommendation."

For Steve Clemons, on the liberal Washington Note: "The tide turned our way today."

"The Committee is ducking here, but that's ok," he observed as the debate continued.

"This is going to be a great fight - lots more room to squeeze the issues out and compel the White House to defend a flawed and damaged Bolton nomination."

White House 'strategy'

There is already speculation that Democrats may seek to filibuster the nomination in the Senate - that is, talk it down.

JOHN BOLTON

Yale Law School graduate

As assistant secretary of state under George Bush senior, helped organise anti-Saddam alliance

Made under-secretary of state for arms control and international security in May 2001

In July 2003, condemned North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for living like royalty while people lived in "hellish nightmare"